Minutes: February 27, 2019

SAC AND FOX TRIBE OF THE MISSISSIPPI IN IOWA

Tribal Council Meeting – February 27, 2019, 5:00 PM

Sac and Fox Tribal Chambers

  1. Meeting called to order at 5:05 p.m.
  2. Roll Call

Presiding Officer:  Anthony Waseskuk, Chairman

Tribal Council present: Adrian Pushetonequa, Vice-Chairman; Delonda Pushetonequa, Treasurer; Troy Wanatee, Jarvis Bear; Harvey Davenport, Jr., Apollo Davenport

Absent: none

Staff present: Bill Thurman, Comptroller; Yolanda Pushetonequa, Executive Assistant/ Tribal Council Secretary; Lucie Roberts, Enrollment Officer; Kent Scheid, Housing Director.

Visitors: Beverly Roberts

  1. Ascertainment of Quorum – A quorum was ascertained with 7 council members present.
  2. Agenda approval

Chairman asks for any changes or additions to the agenda. Motion by Delonda Pushetonequa to approve the agenda. Jarvis Bear seconded. Vote: 6 yes, 0 no. Motion carried.

  1. Reports – Apollo Davenport reported that he visited the clinic to view the damage done inside due to weather issues. Anthony Waseskuk reports that he attempted to attend the Central US Hemp Conference on the 24th and the 25th, but due to road closures because of snow, he wasn’t able to drive into Minnesota and had to turn around on two different days. Fiscal was notified at the time. Jarvis Bear reports he attend the Tribal Green Hemp Symposium on Feb. 19 and 20 gaining contacts and a lot of good information regarding tribal hemp operations.
  2. New Business
    1. Enrollment – 3 New Enrollments

Lucie Roberts, Enrollment Officer, presents three recommendations made by the Enrollment Committee for tribal enrollment: Becker Lee Davenport, Parents: Karac Lyle Davenport and Gabriela Cruz Castanon; Bryson Lyle Davenport-Cruz, Parents: Karac Lyle Davenport and Gabriela Cruz Castanon; and Emily Jeanne Edelman, Parents: Christopher Ryan Edelman and Amber Jeanne Gaus.

Motion by Jarvis Bear to approve the Enrollment Committee’s recommendation for enrollment of Becker Lee Davenport and Bryson Lyle Davenport-Cruz and Emily Jeanne Edelman. Troy Wanatee seconded. Vote: 6 yes, 0 no. Motion carried.

Motion by Jarvis Bear to enter Executive Session at 5:15 p.m. Delonda Pushetonequa seconded. Vote: 6 yes, 0 no. Motion carried.

Motion by Jarvis Bear to exit Executive Session at 5:19 p.m. Adrian Pushetonequa seconded. Vote: 6 yes, 0 no. Motion carried.

  1. Executive
    1. Set Date for General Meeting

Motion by Delonda Pushetonequa to set the next General Meeting for Thursday, May 16, 2019. Jarvis Bear seconded. Vote: 6 yes, 0 no. Motion carried.

  1. Housing Status and Work Session Scheduling

Kent Scheid, Housing Director, presents a request to add the position of Inventory and Material Management Specialist into the budget. The current budget has money available for this. Department staffing status and relationship to Apprenticeship program are discussed. Many Housing positions moved to Apprenticeship. Jarvis Bear states that one of the purposes of Apprenticeship was to support and assist Housing. The shortage of workers at Housing could be alleviated by Apprenticeship. Kent adds that Apprenticeship is committed to other projects, however there is quite a lot of interest among tribal members to join these positions. Tony suggests advertising for laborers who might not want to commit to the programming of becoming certified but just want to work. Delonda asks if laborers are included in the budget. Bill Thurman, Comptroller, states that there is room to swap out capital improvements for laborers, because improvements haven’t progressed as scheduled. Kent states that the Specialist cannot be coupled with laborer due to the Material Management issues they are currently having. Efficiencies are down due to time needed managing all parts and pieces required for work; currently it’s hard to track and we accidentally double order. Bill Thurman adds that the hiring of the Inventory and Material Management Specialist would increase a lot of efficiency costs for example running to town. The Specialist will actually save time and money off the budget. Storage is available in a couple trailers and new office. Storage would also be alleviated by ordering it on time rather than too far ahead of time. A work session may be needed to delineate the staffing needs cross Housing and Apprenticeship departments. Looking ahead there needs to be some planning for space as the departments outgrow their locations.

Motion by Delonda Pushetonequa to approve adding the Inventory and Material Management Position. Adrian Pushetonequa seconded. Vote: 6 yes, 0 no. Motion carried.

Kent adds that he would like to plan a work session between all interested departments about IJH including Executive, Legal, Housing, Apprenticeship, Fiscal. Kent adds that it can be arranged to have some State officials also meet regarding costs etc.

Apollo asks about the Housing Authority and if some issues can also be addressed such as Board of Commissioners. Bill Thurman points out a number of other issues that would benefit from being addressed.

  • Medallion Necklace Bids Selection

Yolanda Pushetonequa presents the bids that have been received for creating medallion necklaces as was discussed in a previous meeting. Twelve necklaces will be created by Meskwaki bead workers to be presented to legislators as gifts recognizing their part in the passing into federal law the repeal of a 1948 bill against the tribe’s jurisdiction over crimes on tribal land. Five bids have been received including dollar amount charged and photos of work samples for each bidder. Yolanda asks how Tribal Council would like for the selection process to proceed. Tribal Council agrees to set the offer of $175 per necklace, based on the bids, and go from there.

The next Tribal Council meeting is set for March 13.

  1. Adjourn

Motion by Delonda Pushetonequa to adjourn at 7:15 p.m. Apollo Davenport seconded. Vote: 6 yes, 0 no. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 7:15 p.m.